CANBERRA, ACT, Nov. 21 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release:
Distinguished guests
Friends
It is a great honour to be here at Freedom Park.
A place dedicated to commemorating those who have fought for a free and democratic South Africa.
And to fostering understanding and reconciliation between all peoples.
Today, we pay tribute to three Australians who embodied these causes - former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Malcolm Fraser, and former diplomat Bruce Haigh.
In recognition of their courage and commitment, their names will forever be inscribed here on this Wall.
Malcolm Fraser knew that dividing us by race, diminished us all.
As Prime Minister of Australia, he condemned prejudice - and he backed his words with actions.
Fraser's principled opposition to the apartheid system in South Africa was as strong as it was deeply instinctive.
Under his Government, Australia supported the UN General Assembly Resolution on apartheid in 1976, and became party to the Gleneagles Agreement in 1977, under which the Commonwealth effectively boycotted sporting contacts with South Africa.
Later, he served as co-chairman of the Commonwealth eminent persons group, dedicated to ending apartheid.
And he was one of the first world leaders to visit Nelson Mandela in prison.
During their meeting, Mandela asked him if the legendary Australian cricketer, Donald Bradman, was still alive.
Years later, when Mandela was President, Fraser gave him a cricket bat signed by The Don "in recognition of a great unfinished innings".
Bob Hawke was every bit as committed to the anti-apartheid cause.
Twelve years before he was elected Prime Minister, he led the Australian union movement's boycott of the Springboks 1971 tour of Australia.
A courageous position, ahead of its time.
As Hawke later recounted:
"[W]e had an obligation to act ahead of public opinion . in the hope that the public would come to understand."
Australia - and the world - proved him right.
As Prime Minister, Hawke upheld the ban on South African sporting tours that Fraser had instituted.
And he built international support for financial sanctions against South Africa.
Action that South Africa's then finance minister described as "thedagger that finally immobilised apartheid."
Australian diplomat Bruce Haigh arrived in South Africa in mid-1976.
The Soweto riots had broken out two weeks earlier, and Haigh said the shame of apartheid confronted him quickly.
He was far from the highest-ranking official at the Australian Embassy in Pretoria.
But he felt he had to do something - and the constraints of bureaucracy wouldn't stop him.
He met with anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, who later died in custody in 1977 after being severely beaten by police.
He also befriended newspaper editor Donald Woods - an outspoken critic of the regime - who introduced him to Desmond Tutu.
Later, Haigh famously helped Woods escape from South Africa to Lesotho.
A feat depicted in Richard Attenborough's brilliant film 'Cry Freedom'.
Haigh also visited political prisoners in detention, and delivered funds from the WorldCouncil of Churches to their families.
He carried messages between banned activists, and supporters in South Africa and abroad.
And he took medicines and letters to refugees-in-exile.
Haigh continued his anti-apartheid advocacy back home in Australia, too.
He helped set up the Ifa Lethu Foundation, to repatriate Black South African art taken out of the country during apartheid.
The personal collection he donated in 2005 began the collection, which now consists of hundreds of works.
Just eight months after his release from prison in February 1990, Nelson Mandela came to Australia.
He chose to visit Australia because of the anti-apartheid stance of our government and the millions of Australians who leant their support to it.
"Your actions," he said, "gave us strength and confidence that our just cause would prevail."
I had the extraordinary honour and privilege of meeting Mandela at the SydneyTrades Hall and at a major event at the Sydney Opera House.
He was a magnetic presence.
And - like so many around the world - Mandela's commitment to peace and justice inspired me then, and continues to do so today.
He strove to heal the divisions of the past, and forgive his oppressors.
And while the oppression of the regime he stood against is long gone, the power and the resonance of his leadership endures.
There is still much his vision, compassion and resilience can teach us.
Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and Bruce Haigh represent the best of who we are as Australians: our instinct for equality, fairness, decency.
And the way we bring these Australian values with us, when we engage with the world. Their names will stand alongside along all those who supported South Africa in its struggle for liberation.
And their deeds will live in our memory - a reminder that no matter how long the walk to freedom - courage, kindness and solidarity will get us there.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
